Rudd angrily denounces 'mass murder' arsonists

An emotional Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has warned Australians to brace for more bad news in the wake of the weekend's lethal bushfires across Victoria, which are known to have killed 108 people.

He has also described the lighting of fires as "mass murder" in the wake of the confirmation from Victorian Police that they are treating some fire-affected areas as crime scenes to determine if they were deliberately lit.

Mr Rudd will be touring the affected areas across the state today and will be staying in Melbourne indefinitely.

Question Time in Federal Parliament this afternoon has also been cancelled and will be replaced by condolence motions.

Mr Rudd has this morning been in briefings with Defence officials and says hundreds of Defence personnel have deployed to join the recovery effort and search homes.

Speaking on Channel Nine, Mr Rudd struggled to answer some questions and almost broke down at one point.

Asked if he could communicate his thoughts on how he felt about what is now the country's worst bushfire disaster, Mr Rudd replied:"Not really."

"It's a level of horror of which few of us have anticipated," he said.

"The nation needs to brace itself for what I believe will be a very challenging time ahead.

"It's just very tough and uncertain out there at the moment."

He also pledged to Victorians that their communities would be rebuilt.

World leaders such as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key had called to express support.

"The expressions of solidarity from around the world have been very important," Mr Rudd said.

Mr Rudd also confirmed that about 600 beds in military facilities may be used as temporary accommodation for those who have lost their homes in the fires, and Centrelink is also working to roll out emergency payments.

And he lashed out at anyone who may have been responsible for lighting the fires, which have destroyed more than 750 homes.

"What do you say about anyone like that? What do you say? I don't know," he said.